Don't miss the 'Clash of the Heavyweights' this summer
So, for the record, this isn't a boxing match. When Boston-bred American Hi-Fi (AHF) join forces with the dirty South's Butch Walker for an east coast summer tour-it's more of a musical match made in heaven (please mind my corniness).

On Friday, July 31, the tour made its way to Boston's Axis unleashing a few solid hours of rock (before the club goes "disco"). What makes this tour unique is that AHF are Walker's backup band and the audience doesn't have to wait between sets. Generally this is a cool idea and other bands should consider doing the same.

This isn't the AHF you think you know
AHF rocked out featuring a mixture of old and new songs. Having just finished their third album, Hearts on Parade, the band is really breaking out of that pop punk sound. Older songs like "Flavor of the Weak," "The Wall of Sound," and "I'm a Fool" went over well with fans. But newer songs like "Hell Yeah" and "The Geeks Get the Girls" demonstrate that AHF can't and won't be lumped into one genre.

There is a lot to listen to in the new songs including piano parts, backing vocals, a little falsetto, good lead guitar parts, and grooving bass lines. For whatever reason, AHF new music is more upbeat-even danceable at times. It's hard to pinpoint the sound, but you can definitely hear AHF's influences like Joe Jackson, The Jam, Cheap Trick, and even Motley Crue on this one-shit-I even hear a little Beach Boys. But, if anything, it should make people appreciate AHF a little more. Plus, Stacy Jones is an entertaining frontman and completely at ease onstage. It's hard to believe Jones was behind a drum kit for many years. Oh yeah, AHF's new drummer Jason Sutter really has the moves down. Nice drumstick twirling work, by the way (I mean that).

Yes, his name is Butch
Walker entered the stage solo with just an acoustic guitar inviting a sing along from his dedicated following. [If you're thinking, 'Who the hell is Butch Walker?'-you probably already know of him. Over the years, he's played in acts such as Marvelous 3, The Floyds, and Southgang. He's a musical Renaissance man of the millennium, in terms of getting signed copiously to major record labels. Still don't know him? Well, he's written and produced songs for some well-known pop rock acts like Avril Lavigne, Midtown, The Donnas, Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, and SR-71.] What many people don't know is that Walker is an outstanding solo artist and a gifted performer. Look up stage presence in the dictionary and Walker's face should be pictured there (OK, I realize that's dramatic). Seriously, what makes Walker rare is that you don't feel like he's trying to sell something he doesn't already believe in. Nowadays it's hard to find an artist that isn't phony or didn't sell their soul to sell a song.

Walker's second album, Letters, is slated for release on August 24, and if anything, this tour should solidify his prowess as a solo artist. It's a shame that more attention hasn't been focused on his solo work as his producing career. The songs on Letters show his appreciation of music from pop to cock rock to punk rock. There's a little bit of everything to hear in his songs.

While the album's good, Walker really shines onstage. Songs accompanied solely by piano like "Joan" take on another form live. I found myself thinking more than once, 'This guy can really sing,' 'God damn it-he isn't yelling,' 'Halleluiah-I'm not hearing overt vocal inflections,' Praise the lord.

While Walker has turned it down a bit, he still rocks. With only five minutes left in the show, he pulled off as much music as possible. Along with AHF on backup, the guys tore into the Marvelous 3 hit, "Freak of the Weak," and went straight into playing a cover of Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio," which was truly the final icing on the cake.

So go buy the new albums, but both of these artists are live acts at best, and even better on a double bill. When you see the names in your local club listing, don't roll your eyes because this is one show you'd be stupid to miss.

To catch AHF vs. BW on tour, visit: www.butchwalker.com or www.americanhi-fi.com or www.butchwalkervsamericanhi-fi.com.